I have written many times about the dangers of margarine.
Here is a shorter and easier way to understand why margarine is killing people.
Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys.
When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.
It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.
How do you like it?
They have come out with some clever new flavorings.
DO YOU KNOW...the difference between margarine and butter?
Read on to the end...gets very interesting!
Both have the same amount of calories.
Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.
Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!
Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.
Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.
And now, for margarine...
Very high in trans fatty acids.
Triple risk of coronary heart disease.
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)
Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.
Lowers quality of breast milk.
Decreases immune response.
Decreases insulin response.
And here's the most disturbing fact....
HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!
Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...
This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).
You can try this yourself:
Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area.
Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:
* No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)
* It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value
* Nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.
Why? Because it is nearly plastic.
Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
The value of grape seed extracts foryour health
from wellnessresources.com
"Grape seed extracts contain powerful antioxidants as well as a unique ability to attach to collagen structures, including those that comprise the heart, arteries, general circulation, and skin. A variety of new studies are showing that these extracts are a powerful cardiovascular protector, as well as part of the anti-cancer toolbox.
In one study researchers showed that grape seed extracts prevented the shrinking of the heart (cardiomyopathy) in diabetic rats. NFkappaB, a potent inflammatory gene signal, was reduced in heart cells. Furthermore, cell engines (mitochondria) were preserved, and there was less adverse glycation (sugar damaging collagen). Tests showed the structure of the heart was improved. Since these problems are all common in diabetics as well as individuals with gradually rising blood sugar levels, grape seed extract offers powerful protection.
Another animal study showed that grape seed extract could protect the heart from experimentally induced heart attack. The researchers again concluded that grape seed extract "has a significant effect in the protection of the heart."
Numerous other studies support the use of grape seed extracts in preventing cancer. Cell and animal studies are showing that grape seed extract enhances the rate at which cancer cells are killed, helping to properly regulate NFkappaB, the critically important gene signal within cells. Another study showed that grape seed extract is effective at reducing damage from ionizing radiation of the sun."
"Grape seed extracts contain powerful antioxidants as well as a unique ability to attach to collagen structures, including those that comprise the heart, arteries, general circulation, and skin. A variety of new studies are showing that these extracts are a powerful cardiovascular protector, as well as part of the anti-cancer toolbox.
In one study researchers showed that grape seed extracts prevented the shrinking of the heart (cardiomyopathy) in diabetic rats. NFkappaB, a potent inflammatory gene signal, was reduced in heart cells. Furthermore, cell engines (mitochondria) were preserved, and there was less adverse glycation (sugar damaging collagen). Tests showed the structure of the heart was improved. Since these problems are all common in diabetics as well as individuals with gradually rising blood sugar levels, grape seed extract offers powerful protection.
Another animal study showed that grape seed extract could protect the heart from experimentally induced heart attack. The researchers again concluded that grape seed extract "has a significant effect in the protection of the heart."
Numerous other studies support the use of grape seed extracts in preventing cancer. Cell and animal studies are showing that grape seed extract enhances the rate at which cancer cells are killed, helping to properly regulate NFkappaB, the critically important gene signal within cells. Another study showed that grape seed extract is effective at reducing damage from ionizing radiation of the sun."
Thursday, December 6, 2007
A cheap gift that keeps on giving
Here's a gift I'm passing along. Since having to get a computer repaired is something that's guaranteed to make you feel and look older for a day or 2, here's an idea that will possibly preempt computer -- and other electronic -- problems.
"At this time of year, it's a real head scratcher on what to give anyone (including yourself!) Here is the gift that keeps on giving all year - a can of compressed air! This is often called dust remover. And the reason? ALL electronic equipment that dissipates heat, such as DVD recorders, televisions, appliances and computers are continuously accumulating dust and dirt internally through cabinet openings. Heat buildup is a prime cause of failure in all electronic systems. Think of any electronic equipment as an "unintentional electronic air filter." (Before using the canned air, attach the red tube supplied with it.)
Here's a slogan: "A cheap can of air prevents a $200.00 repair!"
* A computer's lifetime is often directly related to how HOT it operates, among other factors. Heat build-up dries out capacitors and causes power semiconductors to run at excessive termperatures. This shortens the lifetime of power supplies, video boards and processors.
To clean a computer, one only has to open the case. Many cases today are hinged and open like a book. Often no screwdriver is needed. In today's computers, there are no exposed line voltages anywhere inside any computer when the case is opened. Cleaning is best accomplished with the computer ON, not off. There is no need to physically touch or take a tool to anything inside the computer. It is impossible to have any effect on software by simply opening the case.
Here are the steps to clean your computer:
1. Spray the fan on the video board (and any metal heat-sink fins) to remove dust and dirt there, and also the processor. The CPU fan will blow out the loosened dirt. Heat sinks are usually silver, blue, green or black and stand straight out from the motherboard.
2. Use the canned air to clean accumulated dust and dirt from CDROM drives. This can be done from the front of the computer, with the empty drive tray ejected. Avoid spraying downward where the delicate head assembly located.
3. Spray the compressed air into the slots or holes on the power supply box. This is usually silver colored. A blast of dust and dirt will exit the rear of the computer with the air. Do a few short blasts until no more dirt exits the fan.
4. Finally, use the compressed air to clean out the cabinet interior and close the cabinet. The entire process takes about 2 minutes or less.
* To clean a DVD recorder (these run far hotter than simple players, and usually have a fan on the rear panel) eject the disk tray, and blow compressed air inside. The rear panel fan will help you and carry loosened dirt out through the rear of the enclosure. Avoid directly spraying the head asembly. This assembly will be located downward, near the center of where the disk tray will be when retracted. If mechanically inclined, you can remove the top cover. Note: Avoid directly blasting the delicate laser head assembly with compressed air. While open, the laser lens can be cleaned with a cotton swab and alcohol. Do not allow alcohol to contact the tiny tracking coils located near the laser. A film of dirt often builds up on the laser assembly.
* Televisions (with picture tubes) are a somewhat harder to clean with compressed air with the cabinet on. Almost all televisions have the high voltage, heat generating section located on the left inside the cabinet (orientation - facing the television from the front.) Vents around rear, underneath and the rear of the cabinet can be safely blasted with canned compressed air. If there are no vents underneath, the sides or the top then there is no dust problem to be concerned with. This is often the case with smaller portable televisions. It's not recommended that you open the cabinet on a picture tube television unless you know what you are doing. However, television lifetime can easily be about 20 years (or until the picture tube itself degrades) if dust is removed each year. Television designs today are actually not as robust as old vacuum tube televisions. Those televisions were designed to run hot - solid state televisions are not.
* Microwave ovens, refrigerators and freezers - these too, can become plugged up with dirt from simple convection. These appliances generate far more heat than the largest television set. Compressed air can blow insulating dust and dirt out of hard-to-reach places, such as condenser fins. A vacuum cleaner can remove the dust bunnies that will come out from the process. This also reduces electrical consumption, as these appliances run longer to acheive the same temperature when there is more dust around the condensers. A microwave oven cooking causes a fan inside to run to remove heat from the magnetron. While the oven is running (with covered food inside for a load, do not run empty!) blow compressed air into cabinet openings. The fan will help blow loosened dirt out of the cabinet.
Canned compressed air is a cheap gift, around $6.00. Some cans are sold in packs or two or more. Don't worry about buying a particular brand or what nonsense is written on the label. All canned air has the same inert gas. The only difference between brands is the amount of gas (sold by weight) you get for your buck. Some companies offer tall cans with 20% more than the standard size, for the same price as the standard size can. A bonus can like that typically has 12 ounces. Depending on the amount of dust and dirt to be removed, one can of air can clean a computer thoroughly perhaps two or three times.
Merry Christmas from
www.data4science.net"
"At this time of year, it's a real head scratcher on what to give anyone (including yourself!) Here is the gift that keeps on giving all year - a can of compressed air! This is often called dust remover. And the reason? ALL electronic equipment that dissipates heat, such as DVD recorders, televisions, appliances and computers are continuously accumulating dust and dirt internally through cabinet openings. Heat buildup is a prime cause of failure in all electronic systems. Think of any electronic equipment as an "unintentional electronic air filter." (Before using the canned air, attach the red tube supplied with it.)
Here's a slogan: "A cheap can of air prevents a $200.00 repair!"
* A computer's lifetime is often directly related to how HOT it operates, among other factors. Heat build-up dries out capacitors and causes power semiconductors to run at excessive termperatures. This shortens the lifetime of power supplies, video boards and processors.
To clean a computer, one only has to open the case. Many cases today are hinged and open like a book. Often no screwdriver is needed. In today's computers, there are no exposed line voltages anywhere inside any computer when the case is opened. Cleaning is best accomplished with the computer ON, not off. There is no need to physically touch or take a tool to anything inside the computer. It is impossible to have any effect on software by simply opening the case.
Here are the steps to clean your computer:
1. Spray the fan on the video board (and any metal heat-sink fins) to remove dust and dirt there, and also the processor. The CPU fan will blow out the loosened dirt. Heat sinks are usually silver, blue, green or black and stand straight out from the motherboard.
2. Use the canned air to clean accumulated dust and dirt from CDROM drives. This can be done from the front of the computer, with the empty drive tray ejected. Avoid spraying downward where the delicate head assembly located.
3. Spray the compressed air into the slots or holes on the power supply box. This is usually silver colored. A blast of dust and dirt will exit the rear of the computer with the air. Do a few short blasts until no more dirt exits the fan.
4. Finally, use the compressed air to clean out the cabinet interior and close the cabinet. The entire process takes about 2 minutes or less.
* To clean a DVD recorder (these run far hotter than simple players, and usually have a fan on the rear panel) eject the disk tray, and blow compressed air inside. The rear panel fan will help you and carry loosened dirt out through the rear of the enclosure. Avoid directly spraying the head asembly. This assembly will be located downward, near the center of where the disk tray will be when retracted. If mechanically inclined, you can remove the top cover. Note: Avoid directly blasting the delicate laser head assembly with compressed air. While open, the laser lens can be cleaned with a cotton swab and alcohol. Do not allow alcohol to contact the tiny tracking coils located near the laser. A film of dirt often builds up on the laser assembly.
* Televisions (with picture tubes) are a somewhat harder to clean with compressed air with the cabinet on. Almost all televisions have the high voltage, heat generating section located on the left inside the cabinet (orientation - facing the television from the front.) Vents around rear, underneath and the rear of the cabinet can be safely blasted with canned compressed air. If there are no vents underneath, the sides or the top then there is no dust problem to be concerned with. This is often the case with smaller portable televisions. It's not recommended that you open the cabinet on a picture tube television unless you know what you are doing. However, television lifetime can easily be about 20 years (or until the picture tube itself degrades) if dust is removed each year. Television designs today are actually not as robust as old vacuum tube televisions. Those televisions were designed to run hot - solid state televisions are not.
* Microwave ovens, refrigerators and freezers - these too, can become plugged up with dirt from simple convection. These appliances generate far more heat than the largest television set. Compressed air can blow insulating dust and dirt out of hard-to-reach places, such as condenser fins. A vacuum cleaner can remove the dust bunnies that will come out from the process. This also reduces electrical consumption, as these appliances run longer to acheive the same temperature when there is more dust around the condensers. A microwave oven cooking causes a fan inside to run to remove heat from the magnetron. While the oven is running (with covered food inside for a load, do not run empty!) blow compressed air into cabinet openings. The fan will help blow loosened dirt out of the cabinet.
Canned compressed air is a cheap gift, around $6.00. Some cans are sold in packs or two or more. Don't worry about buying a particular brand or what nonsense is written on the label. All canned air has the same inert gas. The only difference between brands is the amount of gas (sold by weight) you get for your buck. Some companies offer tall cans with 20% more than the standard size, for the same price as the standard size can. A bonus can like that typically has 12 ounces. Depending on the amount of dust and dirt to be removed, one can of air can clean a computer thoroughly perhaps two or three times.
Merry Christmas from
www.data4science.net"
Treasuring your friends, treasuring yourself
"The man or woman who treasures his friends is usually solid gold himself."
Marjorie Holmes,
author
Marjorie Holmes,
author
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
When you worry about what people are saying
"I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything."
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The road to happiness
"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it - every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have."
John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Getting your oatmeal when you don't like oatmeal
Lots of foods are "good for you." But that doesn't mean you're necessarily going to like them.
Oatmeal is one such food. Yes, it's great for you: high fiber, lowers your cholesterol, filling, etc. And I happen to be one of those weird people (there seems to be less of us than there used to be) who likes oatmeal by itself: a hearty bowl of warm oats, a little salt, a little honey or brown sugar, and to me there's nothing better.
But if you don't like oatmeal, here's a way to get some oats, served up in disguise. This is a sort of template for making muffins, muffins which are easy, muffins which are good (as well as good for you), and muffins that can make do with what you've got on hand. (And they freeze well. So make a bunch, and 2 days later, when you want another one, take the frozen muffin out of the zip-loc bag in the freezer, put it on a plate, and nuke it for 35 seconds. It will be warm, soft, almost like you've just taken it from the oven).
Start the night before. Put a handful of oats in a big bowl, and cover with water. Cover the bowl with a plate. Nuke for 2 minutes or so. Take the bowl out and let it sit on the counter.
Next morning, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Take the oatmeal from the bowl and pour it into the blender. Add a cup of milk (buttermilk is best, but regular milk works, too). Add an egg, and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. If you have some leftovers -- maybe a ripe banana or leftover sweet potatoes -- add those to the mix. Whir it up until it's all mixed.
In a bowl, put 2 cups of flour (I use all whole wheat, but you can use white if so inclined. Add 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir together and add the blender mix. Bake in muffin tins for 15-20 minutes. Take the muffin pans out of the oven, and let them sit for 5 minutes. Then turn the pans upside down on to plates, and enjoy.
These are really good. And I dare you to find the oats.
Oatmeal is one such food. Yes, it's great for you: high fiber, lowers your cholesterol, filling, etc. And I happen to be one of those weird people (there seems to be less of us than there used to be) who likes oatmeal by itself: a hearty bowl of warm oats, a little salt, a little honey or brown sugar, and to me there's nothing better.
But if you don't like oatmeal, here's a way to get some oats, served up in disguise. This is a sort of template for making muffins, muffins which are easy, muffins which are good (as well as good for you), and muffins that can make do with what you've got on hand. (And they freeze well. So make a bunch, and 2 days later, when you want another one, take the frozen muffin out of the zip-loc bag in the freezer, put it on a plate, and nuke it for 35 seconds. It will be warm, soft, almost like you've just taken it from the oven).
Start the night before. Put a handful of oats in a big bowl, and cover with water. Cover the bowl with a plate. Nuke for 2 minutes or so. Take the bowl out and let it sit on the counter.
Next morning, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Take the oatmeal from the bowl and pour it into the blender. Add a cup of milk (buttermilk is best, but regular milk works, too). Add an egg, and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. If you have some leftovers -- maybe a ripe banana or leftover sweet potatoes -- add those to the mix. Whir it up until it's all mixed.
In a bowl, put 2 cups of flour (I use all whole wheat, but you can use white if so inclined. Add 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir together and add the blender mix. Bake in muffin tins for 15-20 minutes. Take the muffin pans out of the oven, and let them sit for 5 minutes. Then turn the pans upside down on to plates, and enjoy.
These are really good. And I dare you to find the oats.
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